Folding bed.



'No. 731,506. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903. G. w. SANOR. FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1902.

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No. 731,506. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

' I G. W. SANOR.

FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1902. N0 MODELv c attoznaw G. SANOR. FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1902. R0 MODEL v w E Qwvmtm 6 2mg (W. Sbcqor PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

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. beds of this character which provide for a UNiTEn' STATE GEORGE W. SANOR, OF

FOLDIN Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT @rrics.

EFFINGHAB'I, ILLINOIS.

G BED.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 731,506, dated June 23, 1903.

Application filed July 15,1902.

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SANOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Effingham, in the county of Effingham and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingBeds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding beds of the type embodying a cabinet for housing and concealing the bed-frame and bedding when in folded position and not in use, and has special reference to certain improvements in compact and effective arrangement of parts, presenting a very ornamental and attractive bed.

To this end the invention contemplates a folding-bed construction embodying a minimum number of working parts, while at the same time being simple in both point of construction and operation and occupying a minimum amount of space when folded.

A further object in this connection is to provide a folding bed presenting in its folded condition a very attractive cabinet-mantel effect and when let down presenting more nearly the appearance of an ordinary bedstead.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing ob jects the invention has in view the provision of a foldable cabinet-section, which ,wh ile serving to completely house the folded bedfraine,at the same time has the separate mern bers thereof so related as to be itself folded into comparatively small compass, thereby relieving the sometimes top-heavy and cumbersome effect of many of the ordinary types of cabinet folding beds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting of the folding-bed frame whereby the same may be raised and lowered with a minimum effort and also to associate with said frame a self-ad j ustin g legframe so arranged as to practically balance the bed-frame.

Also the invention has in view a novel form of head-section foldable into different positions and subserving the dual function of a head-section and also as a clamp for the pillows and bedding.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature Serial No. 115,668. tNo model.)

scope of the invention; but a preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet folding bed embodying the present invention and showing the parts in their folded relation. Fig. 2 is a side view of the bed with its parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the bed unfolded with all of the parts in the position which they occupy when the bed is in use. Fig. 4is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the bed unfolded as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of an end portion of the folding-bed frame, showing more fully different positions which may be assumed by the combined head-section and pillow-clamp. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, showing one type of adjustable latch that may be utilized in looking the headsection in its turned-down position when acting as a pillow and bedding clamp. Fig. 7 is detail cross-sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4., showing more plainly the folded relation of the various parts of the foldable cabinet-section.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out. the invention the cabinetsection 1, which serves to house and conceal the bedding and the bed-frame when in its folded position,is susceptible to a varietyof ornamentation and different effects, according to the skill of the cabinet-maker or the desire of the manufacturer, without departing from the invention; but for illustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings a cabinet-section for the bed-frame which is constructed to present a cabinet-mantel effect and embodying a mantel member or shelf and a mirror-panel arranged thereabove. Also in the preferable construction of the cabinetsection, which is designated in its entirety by the numeral 1, the same is made foldable for the purpose of carrying out the object referred to.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the upright foldable cabi net-section or folding bed essentially consists of the lower base member 2 and the upper folding member 3, which when the bed is in the folded condition and not in use are vertically alined and constitute a part of the same cabinet, open at the back to accommodate and house therein the bed-frame and the parts carried thereby.

The lower base member 2 of the foldable cabinet-section 1 comprises a vertical front wall 4 and the parallel side walls or faces 5, projecting inwardly from the front wall at the opposite vertical side edges thereof. By reason of this construction the lower base member of the cabinet-section is entirely open at the back to permit of the mounting and movement of the bed-frame in the manner to be presently described, and it is preferable in the carrying out of the invention to provide the said lower base member 2 at the corners thereof with the offstanding supporting-feet or feet extensions (3, in which are mounted the reversible carrying casters or rollers 7, which permit the bed as an entirety to be readily rolled or moved into any position which it is to occupy when. both in use and out of use.

Associated with the lower base member 2 is an upper folding member 3. This upper folding member 3 of the cabinet-section comprises a front wall 8 and the in wardly-folding side wings 9, connected at one edge to the wall 8 at or adjacent to the side edges of said wall through the medium of the hinges 10, which permit the said wings 9 to fold inwardly and flat upon the rear side of the said front wall 8 of the upper member 3 when the latter is folded down in front of the base member 2 of the cabinet-section; To permit of the folding of the cabinet-section in the manner described, the front wall of the upper folding member 3 thereof is connected to the upper edge of the front wall 4 of the lower base member through the medium of a plurality of hinges 11, preferably of the spring type and serving in a measure to counterbalance the weight of the folding member 3, whereby the same will readily swing in either direction with a minimum efiort on the part of the operator. When the upper folding member 3 of the cabinet-section is thrown to its upright position in vertical alinement with the lower base member 2, the side wings 9 of the said upper base member are thrown out into vertical alinement with the side walls 5 of the lower base member to constitute direct continuation throughout, and with the parts in such relation it is preferable to employ suitable fastening means to prevent displacement thereof. A simple and effective expedient for accomplishing this result is shown in the drawings, and consists in the employment of a fastening-hook 12, pivotally mounted, as at 13, upon each side of the bed-frame 14, and the locking member of which is adapted to engage a pair of keeper-eyes 15 and 16, respectively fitted to the rear edges of the side walls 4 and wings 9 and adjacent to the meeting edges thereof and brought into alinement when the folding member 3 is swung upright into its active position. It will thus be seen that by the employment of a locking device of this character the same performs a plurality of functionsnamely, to lock the bedframe 14in its upright folded position within the cabinet, besides serving to lock together the two members of the cabinet-section.

In order to carry out the cabinet mantel or mirror effect, the upper folding member 3 of the cabinet-section has suitably fitted therein a mirror or mirror-panel 17, while the lower base member 2 of the cabinet-section has arranged at the front side thereof and below the plane of the mirror a mantel-shelf 18. This mantel-shelf is hinged at one edge, as at 19, to the outer side of the front wall 4 of the lower base member and adapted to fold down flat upon said front wall Whenthe parts are placed in the folded relation shown in Figs. 4 and 7. To maintain the mantel-shelf 18 elevated in its offset relation to the wall to which it is hinged, there are associated with such mantel-shelf suitable supports 20, preferably in the form of angled brackets pivoted at one extremity 21 to the front wall 4, so as to permit the same to be swung to either of two positionsnamely, beneath and supporting the said shelf 18 or below and out of the way of said shelf to permit the latter to be folded downward, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bed-frame 14 is of the type known as the single-frame folding bed and also of the type including a shiftable fulcrum for the support thereof. The said bed-frame 14 is designed to swing vertically into and out of the open back portion of the foldable cabinet-section and essentially consists of the opposite side rails .22 and the outer and inner end rails 23 and 24, respectively, which connect the outer and inner ends of the side rails. The vertically-swinging bed-frame 14 also includes a bed-bottom 25 of any approved form, upon which is placed the usual bedding.

One of the distinctive features of the present invention resides in the mounting of the bed-frame 14 in such a manner, in connection with the supporting-legs therefor, as to place the same as nearly as possible in perfect balance, whereby it may be thrown up and down with a minim um effort on the part of the operator. To effect this result, what may be properly termed as the inner end of the bed-frame (with reference to its horizontal let-down position) is leftentirely disconnected and unsupported within the base member of the cabinet-section, whereby such ICC movement throughout a considerable extent and permitting of the fulcrum or fulcrumpoint being carried well out to an intermediate position between the ends of the bedframe. This is important, inasmuch as it permits of considerable play for the bed-frame and a general in-and-out movement thereof to adapt the bedding thereto. The main swinging fulcrum supporting the frame is provided for through the medium of a pair of oppositely-located swinging fulcrum-links 26. These fulcrum-links 26 are respectively located at the opposite sides of the bed-frame and swing into and out of the open back of the cabinet-section. The said links are pivoted at their lower ends, as at 27, within the cabinet-section andnpon the side walls 5 of the lower base member thereof, while the upper ends of the links 26 are pivotally connected, by means of the pivots 28, to the outer sides of the side rails 22 of the bed-frame at a point well in advance of the inner end of the bed-frame, and hence well toward the transverse center of the bed-frame.

In order to carry out the balanced feature of the bed-frame as closely as possible, the pivots 28 for the upper ends of the links 26 constitute the movable fulcrum-point for the bed-frame and are therefore utilized as pivots for the pivoted ends of the inner folding supporting-legs 29. The pivots 2S serve to attach the pivoted ends of the inner folding legs 29 to the inner side of the side rails 22 of the bed-frame, and at this point it is to be observed that the said rails are sufficiently wide to permit of the pivots for all of the legs being so located as to provide for the legs being folded entirely within the plane of the side rails when the bed is folded, as may be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawings, thus providing for a most compact nesting and fold ing of the several parts of the bed.

The inner folding supporting-legs 29 constitute a part of a double self-adj usting legframe, which derives its adjustment through the movement of the bed-frame and includes not only the pair of inner legs 29, but also a pair of outer folding legs 30, arranged in transverse alinement and pivotally mounted at one end by the pivots 31 upon the inner sides of the side rails 22 of the bed-frame. The outer folding legs 30 0f the bed-frame are arranged a distance from the outer end rail 23 of the bed-frame and provide in connection with the inner legs 29 a well-distributed support for both the head and foot portions of the bed-frame.

The inner and outer pairs of folding supporting-legs 29 and 30 are designed to be antomatically folded and unfolded, but do not move in synchronism or unison, as will presently appear; but to provide for the adjustment of both the inner and outer legs through the medium of a common adjusting means the double self-adjusting leg-frame includes in addition to the inner and outer folding legs the oppositely-located coupling or connecting bars 32, connecting the inner and outer legs at each side of the bed-frame and pivotally united thereto through the medium of the pivots 33 and 34:, respectively, the pivots 33 connecting one end of the coupling-bars with the inner legs 29 and the pivots 34 connecting other end portions with the outer legs 30. To complete the leg-frame structure, there is preferably associated with the coupling or connecting bars a transverse brace 35, whose extremities 36 project beyond the outer side of the coupling-bars and constitute terminal stops which engage the lower edges of the side rails 22 when the bed structure is folded into the position indicated in Fig. 2.

The pivots 33 for what may be properly termed the inner ends of the couplingbars 32 also constitute pivotal points for one end of the leg-adjusting links 37, which legadjusting links extend from said pivotal connections 33 with the double self-adjusting leg-frame to an auxiliary stationary fulcrum member 38 in the form of a fixed rail arranged .within the rear open side of the lower base member 2 of the foldable cabinet-section and slightly below the plane of the swinging fulcrum or carrying links 26 for the bed-frame. The leg-adjusting links 37 have a hinged or pivotal connection 39 at one extremity with the stationary fulcrum member or rail 38, and hence are only permitted to swing at their pivoted ends 33 with the self-adjusting leg-frame to which they are coupled. The relative arrangement and mounting of the parts described in connection with the vertically-swinging bed-frame are necessary to provide for not only a well-distributed support for the bed-frame when in its lowered position, but also to permit of it being swung up and down with a minimum effort.

When the bed -frame with the bedding thereon is to be brought to a lowered position after the lock or fastening 12 is disengaged, thebed-frame 14 is grasped by the operator and is drawn out and down from the open back of the cabinet-section. In this movement what may still be termed the inner end of the bed-frame remains resting against the stationary fulcrum member or rail 33, and the frame continues to swing out and down upon the swinging fulcrum-links 26 until the feet of the inner folding legs 29 come in contact with the floor. There upon another fixed fulcrum-namely, the pivots 28-is provided for the bed-frame, and as the same continues to move downward it simply turns on the pivots 28 to bring the inner end of the frame up into the cabinet-section until the outer folding legs 30 come into contact with the floor. In folding the bed back into the cabinet-section the reverse operation necessarily takes placeviz., first, as the outer end of the bed-frame is swung upwardly it simply turns upon the fulcrum or pivots 28 until the inner end of the bed-frame engages thestationary fulcrum member or rail 38.

When

29 to an operative position prior to the swing-.

ing out of the outer legs 30 to an operative position through the medium of the couplingbars 32. Upon the folding back of the bedframe the reverse operation takes placethat is, the coupling-bars 32 commence to swing upward first, and therefore start the folding in of the outer legs 30, after which the links 37 come into play and draw the leg-frame as an entirety back into a folded position out of the way.

It is desirable to associate with the swinging bed-frame a suitable lock or catch which will serve to lock the same in its lowered position. It is preferable to employ some form of automatic catch,and while different catches may obviously be employed a simple construction is shown in the drawings and consists of a spring-actuated latching-dog 40, pivoted, as at 41, upon a suitable support 42, carried upon the inner end rail 24 of the bedframe and having a beveled shouldered catchhook 43 adapted to automatically drop into engagement with the beveled shouldered catch-plate 44, fitted to the inner side of the front wall 4 of the lower base member 2. A suitably-arranged pressure spring 45 normally holds the hook end of the latching-dog in position for automatic engagement with the catch-plate 44. When it is desired to fold the bed back within the cabinet thereof, it is simply necessary to draw the latchingdog 40 back out of engagement from the shoulder of the catch-plate 44,'and whereupon the bed-frame is perfectly free to be folded in the manner already described.

Another useful feature of the invention resides in associating with the bed -frame a folding adjustable head-section 46, which not only constitutes a temporary headboard for the bed-frame when let down, but also performs the very useful function of a pillow or bedding clamp, as will be presently explained. The said head-section 46 preferably consists of a skeleton frame or framework, although it may obviously consist of a solid panel or board, but preferably is of a rectangular form and is designed to be folded over and into the bed-frame and also to be secured in an upright position on top of and in vertical alinement with one of the end rails of the bedframe, and which end rail is indicated in the drawings as the outerend rail 23. The

frame constituting the combined head-section and clamp 46 has a shiftable pivotal support upon the bed-frame at one end thereof. This shiftable pivotal support may be provided in various ways, but preferably through the medium of the double pivoted carryinglinks 47, pivoted at one end, as at 48, to the inner sides of the side rails 22, contiguous to one end thereof, and at their other ends, as at 49, to the side edges of the frame 46 at what might be properly termed the bottom corners thereof. The double pivoted carrying-links 27 are set sufficiently from the adjacent end rail 23 of the bed-frame to provide an extended swinging movement for the pivotally-supported end of the frame 46. By reason of this arrangement of the carryinglinks and their connection withthe frame 46 the latter may not only be moved to an upright position on top of and in vertical alinement with the end rail 23, but also to variable elevations on top of the pillows and bedding (according to the height of the latter, as indicated in Fig. 5) and also folded flat into the bed-frame on top of the bed-bottom and against the end rail 23 when no bedding is in the latter, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In its upright position on top of the end rail 23, acting as the head board or section of the bed, the frame 46 is secured in such position through the medium of a suitable fastening device 51, preferably in the form of a turn-button, pivotally mounted at the inner side of the end rail 23 and adapted to be turned into engagement with the lower end portion of the frame 46. In its folded position, at any elevation thereof, when acting as a pillow and bedding clamp, the frame 46 is designed to be held locked or secured through the medium of suitably-arranged clam p-holders 52. These clamp-holders may be of any suitable type, but should be so constructed and arranged as to be adapted for holding the combined head-section and clamp 46 at any elevation when in its folded position on top of the pillows and bedding. A simple type of clamp-holder is shown in the drawings, and consists in the employment of a pair of latch-hooks 53, vertically adjustable and swiveled in nuts 54, mounted in the side rails 22 of the bed-frame, and whose engaging ends are adapted to'be turned in and out of engagement with the side edges of the frame 46 when the latter is folded. The mounting of the latch-hooks 53 and the nuts 54'permits of their ready adjustment vertically, while at the same time admitting the swiveled action necessary for them to be moved in and out of engagement with the frame 46, constituting the head-section and the clamp for the pillows and bedding.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described improvements in folding beds will be readily apparent without further description, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is p 1. In a folding bed, the combination of a supporting-section having a stationary fulcrum member, a verticallyswinging bedframe having a free inner end movable toward and from the stationary fulcrum member, swinging fulcrum-links pivotally connected respectively to the supporting-section and to the bed-frame, a self-adjusting legframe carried by the bed-frame, and adjusting means carried by the stationary fulcrum member and having an operative connection with the leg-frame to provide for the folding and unfolding thereof through the movement of the bed-frame.

2. In a folding bed, the combination of the supporting-section, a vertically-swinging bedframe, swinging fulcrum-links pivotally connected at one end with the supporting-section and at their other ends with the bed-frame at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, and a leg-frame having legs having a pivotal connection with the bed-frame coincident with that of the fulcrum-links.

3. In afolding bed,the combination with the supporting-section, of the vertically-swing ing bed-frame, a pair of swinging fulcrumlinks pivotally connected at one end with the supporting-section and at their other ends with the bed-frame at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, and a self-adjusting double leg-frame having coupled pivotallyconnected sets of inner and outer legs, said inner legs having a pivotal connection with the bed-frame coincident with that of the f ulcrum-links.

4. In a folding bed, the combination of a supporting-section having a stationary fulcrum member, a vertically swinging bedframe having a free inner end adapted to move against and away from the stationary fulcrum member, swinging fulcrum links pivotally connected respectively to the supporting-section and to the bed-frame, a selfadjusting double leg-frame having inner and outer legs, the inner of which have a pivotal connection with the bedframe coincident with that of the fulcrum-links, and adjusting means, carried by the stationary fulcrum member, for effecting a folding and unfolding of the leg-frame.

5. In a folding bed, the combination of a supporting-section having a stationary fulcrum member, a vertically-swinging bedframe having a free end adapted to move against and away from the stationary fulcrum member, swinging fulcrum -links arranged above the stationary fulcrum member and having pivotal connection respectively with the supporting-section and the bed-frame, a

self-adjusting double leg-frame having inner and outer pairs of supporting-links pivotally connected with the bed-frame and the inner of which legs have their pivotal connection coincident with that of the fulcrum-links, coupling-bars pivotally connecting the inner and outerlegs, and leg-adjusting links hav ing pivotal connection with the leg-frame and also having a fixed hinged or pivotal connection with the said stationary fulcrum member.

6. In a folding bed,the combination with the bed-frame and the supporting means there for, of a frame having a shiftable pivotal connection with one end rail of the bed-frame and adapted to be folded inside the bedframe or moved to an upright position above and in alinement with said end rail, the said shiftable pivotal connection permitting the pivotally-supported end of the folding frame to move to variable positions above and also below the top of the adjacent end rail, and separate fastening means for respectively securing the said folding frame in its upright and folded positions.

In testimony whereof I afliX my in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. SANOR.

signature Witnesses g B. F. KAGAY, Sr., B. B. RINEHART. 

